«It had to happen sooner or later that Billy Wilder, one of the most astringent wits of the American cinema, would make a movie out of the great nineteen-twenties Chicago newspaper farce by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. No matter that it's been very well made before—in 1931 by Lewis Milestone and in 1940 by Howard Hawks, this "Front Page" displays a giddy bitterness that is rare in any films except those of Mr. Wilder. It is also, much of the time, extremely funny. The orginal place and time (Chicago in the late twenties) have been preserved, as well as the principal setting, the press room in Chicago's ancient Criminal Courts Building, The Wilder-Diamond screenplay updates and makes somewhat rougher the original tough-guy dialogue and wisecracks, but the story has not been violated. It's still about the efforts of Chicago's most brilliant, most ruthless managing editor, Walter Burns (Walter Matthau) to keep his star reporter, Hildy Johnson (Jack Lemmon), on the job long enough to cover the impending execution of a poor, shy left - wing innocent whom Chicago's yellow press has turned into a Red Menace from Moscow.»

«Here is a hilariously self-aware period comedy polished to a brilliant sheen. Whit Stillman has found a new way of dramatising Austen – or just found a new Austen, an Austen who appears to have pre-emptively absorbed 21st-century satire and inoculated herself against it. Lady Susan is the scandalous heroine, a widow with beauty and a distinguished name, but no financial means, thus entitled to sympathy and in need of money: a dangerous combination. It is a film of surfaces and cynicism, in which the romanticism of the more famous stories is almost entirely absent: not much of either love or friendship. Interestingly, the real Austen heroine is probably the good-looking Reginald; he is the yearning idealist who is revolted by the idea of marrying for money, and is poignantly vulnerable to manipulation. His fate is settled in the way we might expect. But Lady Susan’s role is harder to read. Might she have a heart after all? Love & Friendship is a refreshing and invigorating delight.»

«This feature-length documentary examines the prime-ministerial career of Tony Blair and his business activities since leaving office a role that film-maker George Galloway describes as The Blair “Rich” Project .The once hugely successful politician who arguably transformed the Labour Party and arrived at Number 10 on a wave of popular support and optimism now lingers at the edge of British politics as the Chilcot Inquiry is released, on the defining act of his premiership the decision behind, the implementation of, and aftermath of Britain's participation in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.Combining testimony from prominent observers, ambassadors and statesmen, with extensive archive footage, animation and illustrations from the award-winning political cartoonist Steve Bell, George Galloway sets out his argument that, despite many good things that his government achieved, Tony Blair's actions since leaving office reveal that his over-riding motivation may have always been a messianic pursuit of personal glory and financial reward.»

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER 2016
« Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. All the slaves lead a hellish existence, but Cora has it worse than most; she is an outcast even among her fellow Africans and she

« Russia 1805. When we first meet Pierre, Natasha and Andrei, their youthful ambition, despite their privileged circumstances, is to find meaning in their lives. Kind-hearted but awkward Pierre, the illegitimate son of Russia’s richest man, wants to change the world for the better. The beautiful and spirited Natasha is searching for true love, while handsome and gallant Andrei, frustrated with the superficiality of society, seeks a higher purpose. At the same time Napoleon’s army edges ever closer to Russia’s borders. As everything they thought they knew is thrown into question, Pierre, Andrei and Natasha find themselves in a time when Russian lives are about to change forever.This adaptation, written for the screen by Andrew Davies, gives Tolstoy's tome ample breathing room to develop and dazzle without overextending its stay or selling itself far too short. Though certainly more readily digestible than Tolstoy's weighty page-turner, and very well done and approachable, the series is best enjoyed as a compliment to the original material, not a replacement. Besides, who doesn't want to say that they've read one of the most prodigious novels of all time? »

«With the assistance of a string of well-informed talking heads, Donne’s film points out the major features of the tax avoidance landscape: tax havens, brass plates, capital flight, crown dependencies, and the like. It soon becomes clear that the avoiders’ best weapon is silence – the list of those who refused to talk to the film-makers, helpfully appended to the closing credits, speaks volumes»

« Terrorism and radicalization have a long history, but in recent years their prominence has been a particularly conspicuous and influential feature of the global political landscape. This important book presents an overview of the processes involved in radicalization and terrorism

« Did you know that the English language has over 150 words for the adjective 'drunk' developed over 1,000 years? Be prepared to learn words you have never heard before, find out fascinating facts behind everyday words, and be surprised

« A documented analysis of early photographs of Saudi Arabia, collected from private and public archives in Europe and across the Middle East. Covering the years 1861 to 1939, this work includes the first ever pictures taken of Mecca and Medina

« Plain Tales from the Hills (published 1888) is the first collection of short stories by Rudyard Kipling. The title refers, by way of a pun on "Plain" as the reverse of "Hills", to the deceptively simple narrative style; and to